How to Minimize Salt Damage To Landscape Plants

When snow is falling and it’s the middle of the night, snow contractors don’t always think about the landscape plants that are on their sites. Many times, their sites are our communities and even sometimes, the fronts of our houses.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• good people skills and some hot coffe to give your contractors when you talk with them

1. When snow is falling and it’s the middle of the night, snow contractors are not thinking about the landscape plants that are on their sites. Many times, their sites are our communities and even sometimes, the fronts of our houses.
   
   Their number one priority is to keep the roadways and sidewalks free from snow and ice, not the safety of our plants. Ok fine, I understand, but the importance of giving these contractors an awareness of what some of these chemicals can do to our turf and plants should not be understated.
   
   What are these chemicals?
   
   Sodium Chloride- (rock salt), applied mostly to roadways, is very toxic to plants, keep away
   Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride- applied to sidewalks is a little less toxic but will cause damage when applied at higher rates.
2. What do you suggest?
   
   We may not have a choice in how much of these materials are applied because this depends greatly on the type of storm, ice or snow, but there are a few things you can do to minimize damage.
   
   • Talk with contractor about concerns over your landscape and have them make an effort to limit chemical use when possible. This talk may also save you money during the winter season.
   
   • Ask your contractor to install deflectors on spreaders used for sidewalks. Keeps chemical directed to the sidewalk and less to the grass.
   
   • Talk with contractors about turning off roadway spreaders when stopped at a traffic light or stop sign. Usually a planting bed with flowers is at these key locations , where these trucks stop frequently but spreaders continue to run. Over time, salt kills plantings.
3. Some more you can do to minimize damage are:
   
   • Irrigate- Salts are easily leached thru soils. Watering areas that you believe are affected can help reduce damage.
   
   • Gypsum- Gypsum applied along grass edges and planting beds helps wash salt away. Does not work as well after the fact, must put down before first storm.
   
   • Plow away from plantings- Talk with plow operators about piling snow in certain areas. Snow plowed from salted streets has a higher composition of chemicals and when continuously piled in the same area, will cause death to our plants.
   
   
   Plan better for next year
   
   You may need to re-evaluate where some of your planting beds are located or the types of plants that are installed.
   
   In colder regions of the country no matter what you do, snow and ice will be a factor to your landscape, but you can avoid some affects.
   
   A contractor who understands the steps needed to care for your landscape during this time of year is worth the effort to find and take care of.
   
   Good luck and be safe.
   
   All the best,
   
   Todd
   
   
   Visit www.landscapeproblemsolver.com

Tips & Warnings

• talk with your contractors
• watch what they do and part of the process
• If you don't care neither will they, It is cold at night